Grab your No. 10 needles, your odds and ends of Julia (or any feltable worsted weight wool) and go! Knit in the round, the little guys begin with i-cord and then are worked completely in the round. I felted them in my washing machine and then embroidered the eyes and noses. For the beards, I used raw washed wool from our sheep. If you don't have any handy, use a thick single ply (like Lopi) and unspin the yarn to turn it back into fluffy fiber.

Now these might look like Christmas ornaments (which is what they started as) but after living with them and photographing them, I decided that they have all-season appeal. Perfect little finger puppets for Harry Potter and wizard fans. They make awesome toppers for a wine bottle that you are bringing along to a dinner date, don't you think?

Call them what you may - elves, trolls, gnomes, Santas.... But while I was making them, I watched the movie The Last Station with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer. Do you know what? The little guys started looking just like Leo Tolstoy to me.

So there you have it - Little Leo Tolstoys, Santas, elves, or whatever for you and yours! You've still got time before the holidays to whip up a few! From me to you. Have fun! And Happy Holidays to YOU ALL!

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hi Kristin ~Merci Boucoup !These are fantastic FUN little characters. I work at a Waldorf school & wanted to give the children some kind of Holiday gift, these are perfect !We may have 10 inches of snow tomorrow, so staying home and knitting these sounds grand !Thanks for your generosity.Happy Holidays ~Shell ~

You have perfect timing! These are the perfect, fun little handmade item to add to packages this year. I've had "The Last Station" for ages. These cute things and our impending snowstorm will motivate me to finally watch it! Thanks for sharing.

I ran across this picture of Lev many years ago and have been looking for it ever since - Leo Tolstoy in a Lawn Chair seems as odd, and for the same reasons as Christ in a Bowling Alley! I hope you don't mind that I shared this picture over on Facebook so I would not lose track of it again!

Thank you for the great creatures. They will make great projects. Perhaps I will put a few on my Kristin postcards hanging in my craft room. You know how we groupies are, its Kristin, Kristin. Not to scary you ha ha

I did see The Last Station and I agree with your observation. Good movie. Happy Holidays to your and your family.

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Just Some of My Fabric Designs That Are Available on Spoonflower Fabrics